Trudeau Dolls
Design: Ola Rahatka
Client: Souvenir Shop, Motherbrand
Date: 2007
1 comment December 12th, 2009
Games and Toys
10 Year Anniversary Kim Jong Il Mega Munny
Design: Tam aka Okedoki
Client: Foosh
Date: 2009
1 comment October 11th, 2009
Daisy Pogo Stick
Design:
Client: Victor Recreation Products LTD.
Date:
Add comment October 8th, 2009
Laurentien Pencil Crayons
Design:
Client: Venus Pencil Company Ltd.
Date: 1951
Although Laurentien (then spelled Laurentian) pencil crayons were made in Canada right from the start, The Venus Pencil Company Ltd. also marketed the same pencils under the brand name ‘Paradise’ in the United States. Both brands were developed for Colour-By-Number kits, and they both kept the same colour names and numbering system. This would explain some of the more exotic colour names like “#2 Sarasota Orange”and “#4 Hollywood Cerise.”
During the 1960’s, a couple of Canadian innovations were made: The packaging was changed to the portable vinyl pouches, and space for labeling on the pencil was introduced to deter theft from classmates.
In 1972, a year before Faber-Castell bought Venus, the French spelling “Laurentien” was trademarked in an attempt to increase sales in Quebec.
Sanford acquired the brand in 1994, and in 2001 they changed the packaging and discontinued the vinyl pouch. The Laurentien website states that the move back to the cardboard box was motivated by the fact that “consumers were more likely to put the coloured pencils in their own pencil case,” however it is possible that the issues of cost and PVC’s recent bad press played a factor as well.
Nevertheless, aside from some minor name changes to several of the colours, the pencils themselves still retain their iconic design.
-Michael Greco
35 comments September 23rd, 2009
Tonka Canada Post Toy Truck
Design:
Client: Tonka Toys
Date: 1978
It was not that long ago that when big name manufacturers dropped products into Canada, they would create Canada-specific versions like this Tonka vehicle (in the States it was covered in army camouflage and in the UK it was a delivery truck). Everything, from automobiles, housewares, toys (Lego, Mechano, Matchbox and more, all did Canadian versions of their products) would be custom tuned to fit our marketplace.
Over the past few decades, at least since Free Trade, the need to nationally tune products was replaced by various global commodities and co-brands like movie/entertainment designs and celebrity endorsements taking over. What was a Canada Post truck was now a Transformers, or a Disney modeled truck. This was a fine idea, it allowed brands to create products that could fit into wider markets, and reduce the cost and energy needed to make things locally specific over and over for every market they entered.
Funny thing though: I have noticed a growing trend of local specific details being slapped back onto products entering Canada (and other markets too). Globalization, and the new ways of manufacturing and distribution is enabling and encouraging this “old” idea again. To help define, differentiate and encourage local markets, brands are reattaching themselves to regional imagery, colours and ideas to tap markets bloated with anonymous product, and to reach consumers tired of internationally styled design.
It was feared that globalization would sweep cultures clean and drive monoculture but in reality the opposite is emerging. Brands are becoming more flexible and robust, with the best ones being able to deliver their products as local content, to local audience with amazing specificity (like McDonald’s menus, Nike trainers, iPods, the new Mini Cooper, etc). This not only opens the doors to products entering foreign markets, it makes the products more desirable to those markets. This formula also creates desirability in the products that are created for other locations. Brands create globally flavoured products, inspired by local markets, and in the process create broad product families, and a deep desire to collect and buy models from other places. A trainer collector will seek out all the models of sneakers instead of just one (Nike fans buying every model, like the New York and LA models of Air Force Ones)
Get ready; we may be seeing a whole wave of Canadian tuned products again, with the Canadian symbols and iconography reemerging as powerful drivers of marketplace identity and placement. RCMP styled iPhone, a Canada red VW Beetle, or buffalo check Nike’s anyone?
-Todd Falkowsky
3 comments June 25th, 2009
Stock Ticker Board Game
Design:
Manufacturer: Copp-Clark Publishing
Date: Originally designed in 1936
5 comments May 7th, 2009
Sorry, No One Gets Their Wish (Limited Edition of 50)
Design: Jon Sasaki
Client: Jessica Bradley Art Projects
Date: 2007
This product plays off the dinner table ritual of snapping the turkey wishbone into halves, and the diner who ended up with the larger half having their wish come true. This laser cut aluminum wishbone warps this tradition because it will only break in equal sections, leaving nobody with a larger piece. The concept is that no one would be able to claim the victorious bigger piece, and that neither would have their wish come true, or better, that both participants would be able to have their wishes come true.
-Todd Falkowsky
Add comment May 5th, 2009
Canadian Barbie
Design:
Manufacturer: Mattel
Date:
- filed under “Not Canadian” –
1 comment April 26th, 2009
As the Crow Flies Mobile
Design/Maker: Contexture, Nathan Lee
Date: 2008
Laser-cut from recycled black paper and salvaged outdated road maps, the seven two-sided hanging pieces depict 14 crows and a large hand-folded tree. The crows are realistically rendered in black while the flip side reveals the colourful travel maps.
Add comment April 15th, 2009
Organic Kids Toys
Design: Joanna Notkin
Manufacturer: Looolo Textiles, Montreal, QC
Date: 2008
Food toys like these are great for imaginative play and roll playing with kids. And just like everything they make, Looolo’s new kids toys are 100% organic and completely biodegradable.
2 comments March 11th, 2009
Peacock Candle Colouring Kit
Design:
Client: Peacock, Canada Crayon Co.
Date:
Add comment January 30th, 2009
